Ringier Africa and One Africa Media (OAM) have completed their merger to become effectively become ROAM (Ringier One Africa Media).
The firm sees this move as targeted at making it Africa’s leading classifieds group in Sub-Saharan Africa competing OLX Group, Frontier Digital ventures and Rocket Internet’s Jumia in some markets.
Clemens Weitz, previously COO of Ringier Africa Classifieds is now CEO of ROAM which combines One Africa Media’s vertical classifieds businesses Jobberman, BrighterMonday, Cheki, BuyRentKenya and Private Property Nigeria with Ringier-Africa’s general classifieds Expat-Dakar, ZoomTanzania, PigiaMe and Qefira and property portal MaMaison.
ROAM is also working to bring on board Mediatiz in Mauritius and Classifieds.co.zw and Property.co.zw.
According to Clemens Weitz, new ROAM CEO: “We are privileged to contribute to the positive disruption that digital solutions bring to our African markets. Many markets are still highly non-transparent, informal and fragmented. Buyers are typically overcharged due to asymmetrical information, and jobseekers defrauded by fake companies. Our goal is to empower Africans through transparency, and transform markets through technology.”
There is heated competition in the classifieds market and ROAM was being left behind because of its wait and see strategy while Frontier Digital Ventures is expanding day and night.
The new ROAM will breathe confidence among buyers and also see the teams benefit from synergies between the individual businesses, greater knowledge sharing and joint technology.
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According to Robin Lingg, CEO Ringier Africa and Asia: “Together with our partners, and main shareholders of One Africa Media respectively, Tiger Global Management and SEEK, the leading global employment marketplace Group, we strive to make ROAM the most innovative, encompassing and successful classifieds company in Sub-Saharan Africa. With our strong local brands we enjoy the trust of our users and develop solutions which are a perfect fit for African users.”
